And the conversion of solar power will be much more efficient. Solar thermal and solar photovoltaic energy (from new dye-sensitized and thin-film materials) will heat buildings, water, and provide energy for devices in the home and office, as well as in retail buildings and manufacturing facilities.

Yup. My son is doing post doc work in chemistry and has some very encouraging results with projects making catalysts for improving efficiency in energy capture and release. All the minute improvements in this and related fields will yield enormous savings over the long haul. As a society we need to be optimistic when it comes to funding such research.

Sticking with carbon fuels and refusing to invest in new technology (because we just can’t afford it right now…..) is a self fulfilling act of pessimism. The future will be bleak indeed if we get hoodwinked by the Kochs and their ilk.